Advanced Global Trading

Advanced Global Trading, commonly abbreviated as AGT, was an emissions-trading and environmental consultancy firm established in Dubai in 2009. The business was created by a group of investors and angel investors and initially focused on trading within the United Arab Emirates and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council region. Its principal activity was sourcing and trading emissions-trading permits and certificates approved under the Verified Carbon Standard, particularly through over-the-counter markets. In addition to arranging transactions, AGT presented itself as an adviser on carbon neutrality and corporate environmental responsibility. The company expanded its activities during the early 2010s, using partnerships and sponsorships to promote carbon-offsetting practices in sectors such as exhibitions, motorsport, sporting events and corporate governance. In 2011, it partnered with Equinox Designs to address environmental waste generated by the exhibition industry. The arrangement was associated with Equinox’s Exhibit Green activities and was intended to offset emissions connected with exhibitions in the United Arab Emirates. AGT also worked with the Swiss Le Mans race on carbon-neutrality measures and supported the expedition of Omar Samra, the first Egyptian to climb Mount Everest, in making his 2011 expedition carbon neutral. Motorsport was another visible part of AGT’s public profile. Lotus F1 appointed the company as an official partner in 2012 to assist with the team’s efforts to reduce and offset its carbon emissions. The AGT name appeared on the Lotus F1 car driven by Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean. The carbon-neutrality relationship continued into 2013. AGT also worked with the Automobile and Touring Club of the United Arab Emirates on the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2012, an arrangement described as the first agreement of its type in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. The company’s consultancy and corporate-responsibility work included a campaign to encourage businesses in the Middle East to incorporate carbon strategies into corporate governance. In December 2012, AGT agreed with Dubai cleaning specialist Grako to help make Grako the first carbon-neutral company in the United Arab Emirates. The firm also maintained offices or operations associated with Bahrain, Doha, Zurich and Johannesburg as it sought to broaden its geographic reach. AGT’s growth weakened in 2013. Reports indicated that its Dubai carbon-trading licence expired in early June of that year and was not renewed. Trading activity stopped soon afterwards. At least five investors reportedly complained that they were unable to liquidate their holdings. Press coverage also questioned the pricing and resale prospects of carbon credits sold through the company, with some investors said to have purchased credits at prices substantially above prevailing wholesale values. The episode highlighted the liquidity, volatility and limited public understanding of voluntary carbon markets at the time. Advanced Global Trading is therefore best understood as a defunct early-2010s carbon-market intermediary and environmental consultancy rather than as a continuing international brand.

Advanced Global Trading was founded in Dubai in 2009 by a group of investors and angel investors. Its initial business was concentrated in the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf Cooperation Council, where it sourced and traded emissions-trading permits and certificates. The company’s activity was primarily conducted through over-the-counter markets, including instruments associated with the Verified Carbon Standard. AGT later broadened its role from intermediary trading into environmental consultancy and corporate carbon-management services. During its most visible period, AGT promoted carbon neutrality through partnerships with companies, sporting events and individual expeditions. In 2011, it worked with Equinox Designs and its Exhibit Green division on offsetting environmental waste from exhibitions. It also helped Omar Samra make his Everest expedition carbon neutral and supported the Swiss Le Mans race through the retirement of emissions-trading permits. These projects positioned AGT as a practical sustainability partner rather than solely as a financial-market operator. The firm gained additional public exposure through motorsport. In 2012, Lotus F1 appointed AGT as an official partner for emissions-reduction and carbon-neutrality efforts. The AGT branding appeared on the team’s cars, including those driven by Kimi Räikkönen and Romain Grosjean. AGT’s work with Lotus F1 continued for another year. In the Gulf, the company agreed with the Automobile and Touring Club of the United Arab Emirates to offset environmental impacts from the 2012 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. The arrangement was presented as a first-of-its-kind carbon-offsetting agreement in the GCC. In December 2012, AGT also signed an agreement with Dubai cleaning company Grako intended to make Grako the UAE’s first carbon-neutral company. Alongside these individual projects, AGT promoted a broader corporate-social-responsibility agenda. Its campaign sought to embed carbon strategies into corporate governance frameworks in the Middle East. The company’s stated model combined the sale or retirement of emissions instruments with advisory work intended to help organizations measure, reduce and offset their environmental impacts. AGT was also associated with offices or activities in Bahrain, Doha, Zurich and Johannesburg, reflecting an attempt to operate beyond its original Dubai base. The business encountered serious problems in 2013. Its Dubai carbon-trading licence reportedly expired in early June and was not renewed. Trading activities ceased soon afterwards. At least five investors filed complaints alleging that they could not liquidate their holdings. Contemporary criticism focused on the difficulty of reselling carbon credits and on claims that some investors had paid prices well above wholesale market levels. The situation brought attention to the illiquid and volatile nature of voluntary carbon markets and to the risks faced by investors who did not fully understand the underlying instruments. Advanced Global Trading subsequently became defunct, with no reliable evidence in the supplied material of a continuing operating business, successor or parent company.

• 2013

  Carbon-trading licence expires

  [1]Advanced Global Tradingen.wikipedia.org

  AGT’s Dubai carbon-trading licence expires in early June and is reportedly not renewed; trading activity stops soon afterwards.

• 2012

  Lotus F1 partnership announced

  [1]Advanced Global Tradingen.wikipedia.org

  Lotus F1 appoints AGT as an official partner to support efforts to reduce and offset the team’s carbon emissions.

• 2012

  Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge offsetting agreement

  [1]Advanced Global Tradingen.wikipedia.org

  AGT works with the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE to offset environmental impacts associated with the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

• 2012

  Agreement with Grako for carbon neutrality

  [1]Advanced Global Tradingen.wikipedia.org

  AGT signs an agreement with Dubai cleaning specialist Grako intended to make the company carbon neutral.

• 2011

  Expansion into environmental consultancy and sustainability partnerships

  [1]Advanced Global Tradingen.wikipedia.org

  AGT develops advisory and offsetting work through projects involving Equinox Designs, the Swiss Le Mans race and Omar Samra’s Everest expedition.

• 2009

  Advanced Global Trading is established in Dubai

  [1]Advanced Global Tradingen.wikipedia.org

  A group of investors and angel investors establishes AGT as a carbon-market and environmental-services business serving the UAE and Gulf region.

A Gulf-focused carbon-market intermediary and environmental consultancy combining over-the-counter emissions trading with carbon-neutrality advisory services and high-visibility sustainability partnerships.

• Carbon-market instruments

  Verified Carbon Standard emissions-trading permits

  AGT sourced and traded emissions-trading permits associated with the Verified Carbon Standard. These instruments were handled through over-the-counter transactions and formed the core of the company’s original commercial activity. The supplied material does not identify specific project types, volumes or individual permit series.

• Carbon-market instruments

  Emissions certificates and carbon credits

  The company bought and sold emissions certificates and permits for customers seeking to offset or manage environmental impacts. The business model depended on secondary-market resale and retirement of credits, although later reporting raised concerns about liquidity and pricing.

• Environmental consultancy

  Carbon-neutrality consultancy

  AGT advised companies, events, sports organizations and expeditions on carbon-neutrality programmes. Services included emissions-offset arrangements and support for retiring emissions-trading permits. Its projects were intended to connect carbon-market instruments with practical corporate and event sustainability goals.

• 2013

  Investor complaints and expired carbon-trading licence

  After AGT’s Dubai carbon-trading licence expired in early June 2013 and was not renewed, trading reportedly ceased. At least five investors complained that they could not liquidate their holdings. Criticism also focused on alleged pricing disparities between credits sold to investors and prevailing wholesale values. The supplied material does not establish a final legal finding or adjudicated misconduct.

  Source

Read more

• 2012Lotus F1 carbon-reduction partnership

  International · Formula One

  AGT became an official Lotus F1 partner and supported the team’s goal of reducing and offsetting its CO2 emissions.

  Outcome. The partnership continued into 2013 and gave AGT prominent branding on Lotus F1 cars.

  Source
• 2012Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge environmental-offset programme

  United Arab Emirates · Gulf Cooperation Council · Motorsport

  AGT worked with the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE to offset environmental damage associated with the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

  Outcome. The agreement was described as the first arrangement of its kind in the GCC.

  Source
• 2012Middle East carbon-governance CSR campaign

  Middle East

  AGT promoted the integration of CO2 and carbon-responsibility strategies into corporate governance frameworks in the Middle East.

  Outcome. The campaign established the company’s broader consultancy positioning, but the supplied material does not quantify adoption.

  Source
• 2011Exhibit Green partnership

  United Arab Emirates · Exhibitions and events

  AGT partnered with Equinox Designs and advised its Exhibit Green division on offsetting environmental waste and reducing the carbon footprint of exhibitions.

  Outcome. The partnership promoted carbon-offsetting within the exhibition industry; the supplied material does not provide audited outcome figures.

  Source
• 2011Omar Samra Everest expedition carbon-neutrality support

  Egypt · International mountaineering

  AGT assisted Omar Samra in making his Everest expedition carbon neutral.

  Outcome. The expedition was presented as carbon neutral, although the supplied material does not specify the offset methodology or quantity.

  Source
• 2011Swiss Le Mans carbon-neutrality support

  Switzerland · Motorsport

  AGT helped the Swiss Le Mans race pursue carbon neutrality by retiring emissions-trading permits.

  Outcome. The event was supported through permit retirement; further verified results are not provided.

  Source

• 2013

  Carbon-trading activities cease after licence expiryOther

  Background

  AGT’s Dubai carbon-trading licence expired in early June 2013 amid investor complaints about the ability to resell or liquidate carbon credits.

  Action taken

  The licence was not renewed and trading activities stopped soon afterwards.

  Aftermath

  The company became defunct, while the episode drew attention to the liquidity and pricing risks of voluntary carbon markets.

  Source

• 2012

  Expand from carbon trading into environmental consultancyStrategy

  Background

  AGT sought to broaden its business beyond permit trading as demand grew for corporate and event carbon-neutrality services.

  Action taken

  The company developed partnerships covering exhibitions, motorsport, sporting events, expeditions and corporate carbon governance.

  Aftermath

  The strategy increased AGT’s public profile, but the business later ceased trading after its Dubai licence expired in 2013.

  Source

1. 1Advanced Global Tradingen.wikipedia.org